Where to Shop in Adelaide: The Best Shopping Streets and Precincts

Bring a decent pair of walking shoes and leave some room in your suitcase. Adelaide’s shopping scene fits a whole lot of possibilities into one city centre, with independent boutiques, Australian designers, vintage stores and plenty of big names thrown in. And that’s only the CBD! Here’s where to shop in Adelaide, street by street, and the stores worth knowing about.

Adelaide’s Shopping Scene, Street by Street

For a city of its size, Adelaide has an unusually strong independent shopping scene, with local designers, Australian labels and vintage stores spread through the city centre and East End. Don’t fret, you’ll find the big international names too, but what’s most exciting is the interesting shopping found in the smaller boutiques, where Adelaide designers and Australian brands dominate.

Rundle Mall is the obvious starting point for department stores and major retailers, while Rundle Street and the East End are where things get more local. The Adelaide Central Market precinct adds smaller specialty stores to the mix, and the city has a particularly good selection of op shops and curated vintage stores for anyone more interested in something with a bit of history.

And this is Adelaide we’re talking about, so many of the different shopping areas are close enough to combine in a single day.

The Best Shopping Precincts and Streets in Adelaide

Coming to Adelaide on a shopping spree? We’ve got the answers for you!

Rundle Mall

Bring a big shopping list, because Rundle Mall is where Adelaide’s big-name retail action happens. R.M.Williams, Myer, David Jones, UNIQLO, H&M, Apple, Sephora, adidas and Country Road all have a presence here, while Rundle Place, Adelaide Central Plaza and Regent Arcade add plenty more shops just off the main strip.

The real fun here is in ducking down the arcades and side streets between stores, where you’ll find smaller retailers, cafés and plenty of excuses to stop for a coffee before heading back out for another lap. Don’t forget to get a sweet treat in chocolate shop Haigh’s!

O’Connell Street

Charming O’Connell Street runs through the centre of North Adelaide, with a mix of small stores, homewares, gift shops and food businesses, so forget the the big chains you’ll find in Rundle Mall. Peter Rabbit, The General Trader and Plant 4 are among the names worth knowing, with plenty of cafés and restaurants filling the gaps between the shops.

For visitors staying around North Adelaide, this is definitely the local shopping strip to know about, and it’s compact enough to walk up and down in not much time at all. Combine your shopping with a meal or coffee without any need to head back into the city centre.

Rundle Street

A few blocks east of Rundle Mall, a fantastic shopping street hides a little more hidden than its big neighbour.

Nudie Jeans, Aesop, Incu, Alpha60, Birkenstock and Country Road line the area, while Goodbyes and Vintage Carousel bring second-hand and vintage fashion into the mix. Then there are the side streets, where galleries, record stores, cafés and bars make it worth taking a few wrong turns along the way. Bring a tote bag and don’t forget to stop on neighbouring Ebenezer for a coffee or a glass of wine.

The Parade Norwood

Head east to The Parade in Norwood for one of Adelaide’s absolute best suburban shopping strips, where country Road, Seed Heritage, Sussan, Uniqlo and Decjuba sit alongside independent boutiques, homewares and beauty stores.

The real treasure hunt, though, happens in the second-hand shops and op shops dotted around Norwood. And it’s not just about chaotic op shops. Vinnies, Salvos and Red Cross are all worth a rummage, and the area has a reputation among Adelaide shoppers for turning up surprisingly good pre-loved fashion. But there’s also a chance to drop into a rent-a-rack shop.

The Parade runs for more than a kilometre, with cafés (like the famous Argo), restaurants and bars mixed through the shops, so there’s plenty of scope to make a proper afternoon of it.

King William Road

King William Road in Hyde Park is where Adelaide’s shopping is a little more polished. So you’ll stumble across Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore, Aje, Country Road and Witchery, alongside Limestone and Miss Gladys Sym Choon with beauty and lifestyle shopping into the mix. And just like any great shopping street in Adelaide, cafés and restaurants fill the gaps between the boutiques, with plenty of good spots for a quick break.

Jetty Road Glenelg

Sand between your toes and a shopping bag in hand is a pretty good way to spend an afternoon!

Jetty Road runs from the heart of Glenelg down towards the beach, with fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, gift stores and galleries mixed in with cafés, ice-cream shops and restaurants. Look out for Charles & Keith, Mimco, Blue Illusion and Peter Shearer, alongside smaller local stores and plenty of places selling beachy bits and pieces.

The best part is the location of course. Browse the shops, grab a cold drink, then wander down to Glenelg Beach for a swim or sunset, with the jetty at the end of the road.

Where to stay in Adelaide

Mantra Adelaide Central

Apartment-style rooms make Mantra Adelaide Central a useful option for a longer stay, with one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside standard hotel rooms. Rundle Mall, Adelaide Arcade and the Central Market are all close by in the CBD, so most of the city’s shopping can be done without a car.

Econo Lodge East Adelaide

Free parking is a useful bonus at Econo Lodge East Adelaide, particularly if you’re driving into the city. The Kent Town location puts Rundle Street and the East End around a 15-minute walk away, with cafés, restaurants and shops along the route.

Econo Lodge North Adelaide

For something a little removed from the CBD, Econo Lodge North Adelaide sits close to O’Connell Street, one of Adelaide’s best suburban shopping strips. Free parking comes in handy, while the city centre is only around 2km away.

Comfort Hotel Adelaide Meridien

An outdoor pool, free parking and Melbourne Street on the doorstep give Comfort Hotel Adelaide Meridien a useful mix of facilities and location. O’Connell Street, Adelaide Oval and the CBD are all within easy reach, with North Adelaide’s cafés and restaurants close by.